Installed Win 7 Pro wrong on my 1810TZ - Help!?

Hey folks...

I have an 1810TZ and then I bought an 1810T. (Long Story)

My problem is with the TZ:
I made an Image of the system, as suggested, then I "Upgraded" the Win 7 Home system to Pro.
But I screwed up by installing the 32bit version instead of the 64bit.

The only way it would let me come back to the 64bit version of Pro was to do a "Clean install".

Here’s my problem:
1) Now the PC takes a Loooong Time to boot.

2) The PC has a 320Gb HDD but shows only 185Gb of "Total space" on C:\ .
The T with the same HDD, shows 285Gb total space.
Wow... Win 7 Pro takes 35GB of disk space? Did I do something wrong here too?

3) Now there is a hidden "System" D:\ drive using 100Mb, that was not there before.
I don't know how to get rid of the D: drive. It won't let me delete it or access it.

Something is weird here. I did not install any applications yet.

The PC does not recognize the "Image Disks" I made.

I started to re-install Win 7 Pro… but I didn't think that would get rid of the D: drive or fix the problem, so I didn't do it.

I think I need to re-format the HDD. But I'm not sure how to do it right and don't want to make things worse.
This is not the DOS 3.1 machine I used to have.

On the other hand:
When I got the 1810T I did a “Clean install” of WIN 7 Pro 64bit before I did anything else. There are no problems with the "T".

I ordered a Factory System Disk for the "TZ" from Acer and it should be here in a couple of days. I ordered it before I found this forum.

I'm an old guy that is frustrated and lost here. I'm getting Dizzy trying to go through all of the threads here. Is there anything I can do?
Like I said, I think I need to re-format the HDD, but need help to do it right.

I'm grateful for any suggestions that will get this PC back to where it should be.

Thanks for your time
Rich

 

Format it and start again.

 

Put in the Windows installation disk, delete any partitions on your hard drive, create a new partition that is the maximum size for your drive, and then install.

 

The 100mb system hidden partition is created when windows is installed, maybe the reason you couldn't see it before was because there wasn't a drive letter assigned to it, if you were to delete it you won't be able to boot into windows, simple as that. To hide the partition, all you need to do is to remove the drive letter in disk management. This will hide the partition, but won't delete it, and you will still be able to boot into windows.

As far as I'm aware, the 100mb system reserved partition holds boot files, and bitlocker features.

If you read on this forum, a Microsoft Support Engineer states this.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...e/thread/656014d2-a516-46e6-a841-d0f9333ecb48

 

Like hollinshead suggested, you should completely reformat your HD after backing up all documents, files, etc. that are important onto an external HD for temporary storage. Pop in the Windows 7 dvd, remember 64 bit this time, and when you get to the disk partitioner just delete everything that you see until there is a single unpartitioned drive remaining. Then there should be a "format" button, click that and proceed with your install.

 

I did as you and hollinshead suggested and it worked. Thank You Both.

There wasn't anything to back up. The only Desk Top Icon I have is the Recycle Bin.

I encountered some strange things before I was actually able to use the DVD to install. But I will post back and fill you all in on that tomorrow.

The thing is, NOW I have 285Gb space in one drive on the HDD and the Boot Up is swift.

Again, Thank you